WHEW!

March 20, 2014

Thank you so very much for your editorial support opposing the state's ill advised plan to sell off major portions of our precious offshore Lee County Islands, including the jewel, Cayo Costa. With your help and the help of many other advocates around the state, that dangerous idea has been dropped by our so called state "leaders."

As a young legislator in the mid seventies, the preservation of these important barrier islands was a priority of mine and many others, who could foresee multi-story hotels and condominiums dotting our shoreline, just like Florida's other coast. We won the day, and believed our threatened lands were forever saved. Who knew that barely 40 years later shortsighted political leaders would be putting those very parcels on the auction block to make a few bucks?

My personal thanks goes to your district commissioner John Manning for bringing this matter to our commission, where we took immediate and unanimous action in opposing the sale. Every once in a while the good guys win one. And this was one of those times. But as has been said, "Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Liberty."